With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning …
Summary: Peter is not afraid to tackle tough topics. In this passage, he takes on adultery.
Normal love is a bouquet of many types of love; affection, brotherly love, parental love, godly love, and lasting love are the basics. Those with “eyes full of adultery” obsess over a particular flower, the type of love known as eros.
Sexual attraction may be the premier example of what the Bible refers to as “desires of the flesh.” In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes, “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” (Galatians 5:17) (For a list of sexual behaviors we are supposed to avoid, see Leviticus, chapter 18.)
Knowing that we are not to commit adultery is a restraint, but for some, it is not enough of a restraint. The false teachers are “bold and arrogant” (2 Peter 2:10). They “do not understand” (2 Peter 2:12) and, as a consequence, place their own judgment before God’s.
Pastors, preachers, and teachers are not immune to this temptation. The false teacher even more so. If they “blaspheme in matters they do not understand” (2 Peter 2:12) then they may underestimate or discount the power of Satan to tempt them.
Satan is an expert at playing on our emotions. He paints a picture in the mind of how wonderful life would be if only… People that believe they are above the Law of God can rationalize anything. As a result, they “never stop sinning.”
Peter points to the telltale sign of this weakness. Such people have “eyes full of adultery.” It is easy to see for those who know what to look for. Job knew. He tells us, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.” (Job 31:1) Why? Because he knows where that leads. Such thoughts wound our soul, and if the soul is wounded, again and again, it becomes calloused.
It is not okay to preach the Gospel with the mouth and live an adulterous life with the rest of the body. God takes note of such behavior. He sees our hearts and knows what is in the eye of our minds.
The true teacher of God’s Word follows the advice of Peter in 2 Peter 1:5-7:
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”
Love is included in Peter’s list, but it is the godly, selfless kind, not the indulgent kind. Crucial to this topic is exercising self-control. But think of all the red lines that the false teacher has to cross to get to this point. Is adultery “good?” Are such people lacking knowledge of what God says about sexual behavior? Have they persevered in applying God’s law to their lives? Are they being godly and showing respect to their Creator? And finally, how can one indulge in adultery without hurting someone else?
Every item on Peter’s list has to be ignored to justify adultery. Is it any wonder that Peter has such disdain for them?
Application: Do not open the door to temptation. Guard the gateway of the mind and be careful what you gaze upon.
Food for Thought: How is today’s topic related to the sin of gossip? (See Romans 1: 28-32)
It is related to any sin that gives in to worldly desires with no self control. There is no restraint to the desires of the flesh. In this sense it is also related to Galatians 5: 16 – 26, as you mention in your devotion.
Thank you, Rich.
You are right, the doorway to lust is the same door that opens to every sin, including gossip.
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32
Did not see fit to acknowledge God….gave them over.
Rich is right, it relates to any sin and if one is not abiding in Him or seeking His ways then self control would be impossible. A false teacher in the church sees His word, hears the right way and does not acknowledge it in his heart.
Another way these sins are connected is that once the thought is in your head it’s hard to get it out. All it takes is one errant thought to change how you think about a person, whether that is lust, or the juicy tidbit you heard, it changes things. I know how hard it is for an earnest believer to overcome, how impossible would it be without God? Would the false teacher even want to stop?
A,
I appreciate your comment. You raise a key point: the “false teacher” does not want to stop. That is the key difference. The true believer is convicted by the Holy Spirit and turns away from sin. (1 Thessalonians 1: 4-5)
Once again I am late to the party, but it appears I am in good company. Looks like we are all on the same page.
11-13-2021, 2 Peter 2:14a, How is today’s topic related to the sin of gossip?
All sin’s are a violation of the great commandments as given by Christ.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.
Matthew 12:30-31
All sins start the moment we choose to satisfy some temporary desire of OUR human flesh ( our fallen nature ), and sacrifice our fellowship with God which comes from our humble obedience to His will.
Anytime we ignore God’s law by action or neglect or by tolerating wrongdoing, live being unrestrained by His commands and His will. We are violating His commands.
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
1 John 3:4
Thank you, Ron.
Well said! Sin is lawlessness.